New Electric Toothbrush Possibly Used?

Factual Questions
1

Im curious but has anyone bought something online whether its amazon or walmart/target or similar sites… then open the box and find out that item was somehow used? Or is that impossible? Thus imagine say an electric shaver, toothbrush or bodygroom.

Assuming the box looks like its brand new, is it possible for the item to been opened and returned and now you get that item?

Asking this because an item I purchased new, an electric toothbrush, it looks like there is small strands of hair or dirt there on the actual electric toothbrush handle. Of course the toothbrush head is still unopened in that small box etc. But inside the box, it appears like dirt but its more like short pieces of hair?

I remember I saw a review on amazon someone bought a male groomer and then commented it was used and had hair in it. But is it possible for it to be like that if the box looks like it was not opened?

Or is there a way for people to return an item but seal the box as it was brand new?

Would any of you feel comfortable using it if you disinfect it?

Or having dirt or small pieces of hair like that normal if its kept in the shelves for so long?

2

I’ve see instances where a box was opened from the bottom and the original seals on top of the box were left intact.

If it looks like it’s been used or even opened, I’ll send it back or ask for a refund.

Also - Welcome to The Straight Dope Message Board!

3

Hi. I looked at bottom of the box and that would look a bit hard to do that though.

But is it normal to have dirt on a box like this though? Such as if it was in the shelves for a very long time?

There is no water or liquid or anything like that on it. It did seem like some short strands of hair… very tiny on the handle though…

4

It’s not impossible. Sometimes some places will still sell returned items as new, rather than as “like new, open package.” I wouldn’t expect it directly from Amazon, but definitely from a third party seller. I’ve seen some bad reviews.

It would make sense to me that they might take the return, replace the head, and then call it new. Or even consider it still new because the head was never opened.

Dirt and stuff on teh box I wouldn’t be concerned about–that could be from shipping or some storage issue. But stuff on the actual item? I’d be wary of that even it I bought it used/refurbished, as I would expect them to clean it.

As for how they got it back in the box: how is it sealed? You can definitely reapply shrink wrap, or just be very careful with opening a box.

5

Okay well this wasn’t from a third party. It was one of those sites like best buy, target etc and thus directly from them.

But of course what if it got returned etc. I got to wonder what do site like that do with opened boxes and get returned. Do they have replacement boxes and just put that item in it and wrap it up as new? By that i mean like amazon or best buy or target. I can’t imagine they eat the cost each time right if someone open a box and say they don’t want it?

Well those replacement heads… you could literally buy new ones for it and put one there. But i mean the electric toothbrush handle… thus the main part. It looked like strand of hair very tiny or dirt on it. Like imagine the area where you press the power to power it on. It was around there etc.

But if you disinfect it… would it be safe to use though?

Again its the handle part… not the actual replacement head since you can always put in a new one

Also the dirt and stuff… its inside the box… like imagine you take everything out of box and see it at bottom of box. Im not talking about outside the box etc.

But the pointy part of the electric toothbrush that connects to the replacement toothbrush, any concern of that such as it going to the replacement brush?